June 19, 2008 - 9:16am

News

Senate Districts 6, 7 second-tier GOP targets

By Dante Scala

The races we survey today are worth keeping an eye on, but don't make the top tier of competitive races, in our current estimation.

Two other freshman Democrats, Jacalyn Cilley in District 6 and Harold Janeway in District 7, both face similar situations. Both defend seats with a slight Democratic tilt. And both face challengers who do not hold political office. (In fact, as far as we know, none of these candidates have run for state office before, though we're certainly willing to be corrected on this point.) If the Democrats have to spend a lot of money to retain these seats, Republicans are having a better time of it than we're expecting right now.

Finally, we'll throw in a few wild cards: Out in Cheshire County, Molly Kelly has a rematch with former Senate leader Tom Eaton. But District 10 is just about as blue as they come.

In District 13, two quality candidates -- Board of Education member Sandra Ziehm for the Republicans, state Rep. Bette Lasky for the Democrats - will fight it out in Nashua to replace retiring Senator Joe Foster. This district, however, is strongly Democratic; Bush received just 43 percent of the vote in 2004 here, Benson 45.5 percent.

Of all the Democratic incumbents, Maggie Hassan alone faces the combination of a competitive district (Bush won 48 percent here four years ago, Benson 47 percent) and a candidate who currently holds state office (Rep. Lee Quandt). If things are going well for the Republicans at Labor Day, they will take a look at District 23.

DANTE SCALA can be reached via email at dante.scala@unh.edu.

Related topics: State Senate, SD-10, SD-23, SD-6, SD-7

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Comments

While I like the analysis, I

posted by Gavin G.

While I like the analysis, I find the blue and red tilt and comparing them to national level quite flawed. NH voted for Kerry in 2004, but for the most part the state remained red (with the exception of the Governor). What should really be examined are their voting records, what have they done for their district and their attendance.

I give the no-names credit. Its a lot better than being hand picked, and beholden to special interests groups.

06/19/08 11:26 am

yes, give them credit

posted by Dem Dawg

Yes, give the Republican ballot fillers credit for allowing the Republicans to use their name and reputation to another Democratic blow out.

Yes, give them credit for allowing a broke, dysfunctional and depressed party put them out on a dried up limb without the resources, expertise or ability to assist their candidacies.

Yes, give them credit to agree to be part of the largest team of Republican senate candidates to lose an election...ever.

06/19/08 3:35 pm

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes vs. Change, Change, Change

posted by Jim Splaine

The Democratic candidates will win in each of the districts you mention. Molly Kelly and Jackie Cilley have done great work, and the voters know that -- plus the turnout for Democrats in those districts will be incredible. The same can be said for Bette Lasky, who while not in the Senate right now, has done many great things for Nashua while in the House.

I like Lee Quandt, and I'm sorry he decided to run for State Senate. Maggie Hassen will win with a large Democratic turnout. Hopefully, Lee will keep the race positive.

I think November, 2008, is all about turnout, and change. The turnout will be enormous for Democrats, and the change voters want will be in Washington and Concord. Voters also understand that Democrats have only been in the majority in Congress and in New Hampshire's Legislature for 18 months at this point, and that to vote for more change they have to have the Democrats around for a while.

Statewide and nationally, Republicans will try to make an issue out of taxes, taxes, taxes, but Democrats will win because of the need for change, change, change.

06/19/08 3:41 pm

As an independent I get the

posted by Concord Rob.

As an independent I get the best of both worlds. However, one can see from Dem Dawg and Mr. Splaine that NH dems will just try to ride the national issues and hide the mess that Democratic leadership has created in NH. A $200 million shortfall, no problem, we will just borrow and then tax you to death later. A proposed $495 million in new pet projects, no worries, we will just plan it and worry about it later. I thought the NH Democratic leadership like the national leadership promised to be responsible and be pay-go? Borrowing $100 million to "balance a budget" is not being responsible.

Is this the change that Mr. Splaine writes about? If we are going to play national politics then I was promised that if i voted for a democrat that it would lower gas prices (as told by Nancy Pelosi in 2006), and look at the prices now. A countrywide bailout for Dodd disguised as an consumer bailout for irresponsible borrowers. What about the hardworking NH residents who pay their bills on time? We will just get stuck with the bill.

The first candidate that promises me responsible spending and lower taxes gets my vote.

06/19/08 4:34 pm

maggie v. lee

posted by marian

while we may love to entertain the Rep. V. Dem. diatribe, the truth of the matter is that we must look at the issues at hand: which of the candidates has been most accessable during times of extreme duress? Who has been the one to answer the call for help?

Who has been the one that has gone to bat for the voting constituents of this Seacoast district? Who has been the one to challenge the status quo re: confrontations w/Insurance carrier's issues?(small group healthcare,flooding & hailstorm claims, Insurance mandates)?

look back upon the record dating back 10 years or more, you will find the answer: the only candidate who has worked in a bi-partisan effort for the better good of NH's Seacoast constituents: QUANDT.

Quandt is detached from any political label, he represents his community, thus making him a premiere candidate for NH Senate---Lee has no hidden agenda; he is not looking for political favors, political advancements nor monetary rewards...he is who he is.

Bottom line, Quandt has nothing to gain or lose by running for Senate; his earnest goal is to serve his community well

07/24/08 9:44 pm

endorsement of Lee Quandt

posted by gregory c.

fellow Seacoast voters:
when the day comes, in a month or so, you will be afforded the privaledge to cast your vote for Senator representing the Seacoast.

Please just Remember who has been there for you in Concord. Remember who has been the one that stood by you & deffended your rights under your Insurance company's contracts & their fiduciary responsibility w/respect to Property & Casuality claims due to flooding & Hail storms, small group healthcare. Who brought much of this wrong-doing to the NH Insurance Commissioner & demand regulatory action? LEE...

Everyone else fled, looked for federal compensation, and bemoaned their neighbor's plight. Lee took the bull by the horn & engaged our DOI Commissioner to do the right thing: put the fire under the Insurance Companies' belly & own up to their obligations

Lee was the sole instrument who approached our Ins. Commissioner w/the detailed data that our insurance contracts were ill enforced. Others joined in on our illfated situation, but Lee was the only one to take action & correct the injustice that plagued our community.

Lee is an independant thinker, he is not one to cave to party directives, he is not one to "trade" a vote for lobbyist's money.

As an independant voter, I urge you to vote for a man who's loyalty lies w/his constituents: Lee's vested interest is soley predicated upon the well being of the voting public of NH.

He has NO design w/respect to furthering his Political career, NO design upon the financial windfall of lobbyist's money, and NO design to hood-wink his loyal constituents.

If we want an earnest & sincere representative in Concord, the I urge to vote "Quandt" for Senate: his word & his integrity speaks for itself.

there has been way too much "trading" going on in Concord: trading for votes, trading for money, trading for due legislative process. Lee will not negotiate any of the aforementioned; he is a man who has proven that he will not compromise his constiuent's wellbeing for fame, money or glory.

It is time to bring integrity back to the State House, enough of the Monopoly playing w/our money, our lives & our ethics.

Vote Quandt if you truly want bi-partisan change: his record is his evidence of sincere comittment to our district. Make no mistake, Lee has nothing to gain or lose in this election: he & his wife, Dory, could retire & be quite happy.

We are the ones who will be empowered & finally have a loud & clear voice in Concord: we need to have this man serve as our Senator.

it will scare the "bejebba's" out of those in Concord who play by the "Party line politics", Lee will encourage those who dare to cross party lines for the better good of their constiuents to dare step forward & challenge the statis quo

We need a Senator who is not afraid of anyone's attempt's to silence his effort for the better good of his constiuents

10/02/08 12:43 am